March 29, 2021
Scotland
Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway couple temporarily halt business after remote road damaged by overturned windfarm crane
By Stuart Gillespie | Daily Record | 29 Mar 2021 | www.dailyrecord.co.uk
By Stuart Gillespie | Daily Record | 29 Mar 2021 | www.dailyrecord.co.uk
A couple claim their business is “not sustainable” until repairs are carried out to a road damaged by a giant overturned crane.
Fiona Clubb has temporarily called a halt to the hay delivery firm she runs with husband Jim as the B729 between Carsphairn and Moniaive has been closed until repair work is completed.
Last week saw the removal of two cranes which went off different roads on their way to Statkraft’s Windy Rig Wind Farm development last month.
But the state of the B729 near the Clubb’s home at Blackmark means it is now shut, prompting them to call a temporary halt to deliveries.
Mrs Clubb said: “Things have come to a head and for us the bubble has burst. We have decided to temporarily shut the business down as it is not sustainable.
“The road near us is damaged on the Moniaive side so we have to go out the other way. It adds an extra hour on to our journey – we had some deliveries that were only five minutes away and now it’s an hour and five minutes away.
“We don’t know when it will reopen. Someone from the council is due to come and inspect it, then the work will probably have to go out to tender.”
One crane went off the B729 on its way to the development on February 22 with the other becoming overturned on the C35 Water of Ken road near the entrance to the site itself the same day.
They were finally removed last week.
A council spokesman said there had been “movement” in the surface of the B729 and they are awaiting the findings of an investigation on Monday before carrying out repairs.
He added: “We don’t yet have a date for starting works or opening the road but we’re moving as quick as we possibly can to get this completed and reopened.”
Mrs Clubb hit out at Statkraft and insisted: “We are not being listened to. We are being shut in.”
A spokeswoman for Statkraft said: “Following the removal of the stranded crane vehicle on the B729 there was found to be some damage to the carriageway that requires remedial works.
“The work required is being assessed and carried out by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
“There are still some clearing down works to be done on the C35 over the next week.
“Traffic will be able to use the C35 as normal during these works.
“We apologise for the inconvenience that the incidents have caused to local road users.”